Drug Facts - Juveniles & Drugs

Overview

Although recent trends in youth drug use have shown
the first significant downturn in usage levels, they
remain at high levels and it has been shown that the
earlier drug use is initiated, the more likely a
person is to develop drug problems later in life.

Youth substance abuse can lead to many other
problems, including the development of delinquent
behavior, anti-social attitudes, and health-related
issues. These problems not only affect the child,
but can also influence the child's family,
community, and ultimately society.

Extent of Use

Recent trends in youth drug use have shown a
significant downturn in usage levels. However,
reducing youth drug use remains a key component of
the President's National Drug Control Strategy
because studies have demonstrated that the earlier
drug use is initiated, the more likely a person is
to develop drug problems later in life.

According to the 2008 Monitoring the Future study,
19.6% of eighth graders, 34.1% of tenth graders, and
47.4% of twelfth graders reported using any illicit
drug within their lifetimes.

According to the 2007 Youth Risk Behavior
Surveillance System (YRBSS), conducted by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
approximately 38% of high school students surveyed
nationwide used marijuana during their lifetime.

According to the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use
and Health, youths who participated in activities
during the past year were less likely to have used
drugs in the past month than youths who did not
participate in activities. Among youths aged 12 to
17 who participated in two or more youth activities
(for example, band, sports, student government, or
dance lessons), 10.4% had used an illicit drug in
the past month. Among youths indicating one or no
youth activities in the past year, 17.9% reported
past month illicit drug use.

Health Effects

Persistent substance abuse by young people often
leads to academic difficulties, health-related
problems (including mental health), poor peer
relationships, and involvement with the juvenile
justice system. Additionally, there are consequences
for family members, the community, and the entire
society.

Mental health problems, including depression,
developmental lags, apathy, withdrawal, and other
psychosocial dysfunctions, are frequently linked to
substance abuse among adolescents. Substance-abusing
youth are at higher risk than nonusers for mental
health problems, including depression, conduct
problems, personality disorders, suicidal thoughts,
attempted suicide, and suicide. Marijuana use, which
is prevalent among youth, has been shown to
interfere with short-term memory, learning, and
psychomotor skills. Motivation and
psychosexual/emotional development also may be
influenced.

Substance abuse among youth has also been strongly
linked to delinquency. Arrest, adjudication, and
intervention by the juvenile justice system are
eventual consequences for many youth engaged in
alcohol and other drug use. Substance abuse does not
directly cause delinquent behavior, and delinquency
does not directly cause alcohol and other drug use.
However, the two behaviors are strongly correlated
and often bring about school and family problems,
involvement with negative peer groups, a lack of
neighborhood social controls, and physical or sexual
abuse.

The Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) study reports
the number of people seeking emergency department
(ED) treatment related to illegal drug use or
non-medical use of legal drugs. In 2006, ED
drug-related episodes for persons ages 12 to 17 were
estimated to be 58,428. Of these episodes, marijuana
was mentioned 44,088 times; cocaine was mentioned
10,984 times; stimulants were mentioned 7,740 times;
and MDMA (Ecstasy) was mentioned 4,524 times.

Treatment

In 2006, there were 2.1 million youths aged 12 to 17
(8.2% of this population) who needed treatment for
an illicit drug or alcohol use problem. Of this
group, only 181,000 youths received treatment at a
specialty facility (approximately 8.7% of youths who
needed treatment), leaving 1.9 million youths who
needed treatment for a substance use problem but did
not receive it at a specialty facility. "Specialty"
treatment is defined as treatment received at any of
the following types of facilities: hospitals
(inpatient only), drug/alcohol rehabilitation
facilities (inpatient or outpatient), or mental
health centers. It does not include treatment at an
emergency room, private doctor's office, self-help
group, prison or jail, or hospital as an outpatient.

During 2006, approximately 7.7% of the drug/alcohol
admissions to treatment facilities in the U.S.
involved individuals ages 17 and younger. Among the
individuals ages 15 and younger admitted to
treatment during 2006, 61.2% were being treated for
primary abuse of inhalants.

Arrests & Sentencing

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's
Uniform Crime Reporting Program, there were 109,444
juveniles (under the age of 18) arrested by state
and local law enforcement agencies for drug abuse
violations during 2007, representing approximately
10.6% of all drug arrests in which the offender's
age was reported.

During FY 2004, 1.9% (526) of those arrested by the
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) were under the
age of 19. Of the DEA arrests involving those under
age 19, there were 97 arrests involving powder
cocaine, 103 arrests involving crack cocaine, 150
arrests involving marijuana, 94 arrests involving
methamphetamine, 39 arrests involving opiates, and
the remaining 43 arrests involved some other type of
drug or were for a non-drug reason.

According to preliminary data from the Arrestee Drug
Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) Program, a median of 59.7%
of male juvenile detainees and 45.9% of female
juvenile detainees tested positive for drug use in
2002. The male samples were compiled from 5 U.S.
sites and the female samples were compiled from 4
sites.

In 2004, juvenile courts in the United States
handled an estimated 193,700 delinquency cases in
which a drug offense was the most serious charge.
Between 1991 and 2004, the number of cases involving
drug offenses that juvenile courts handled more than
doubled. Drug offense cases accounted for 12% of the
delinquency caseload in 2004, compared with 7% in
1985.

According to a one day census of juvenile offenders
in residential placement on October 27, 1999 there
were 9,882 juvenile offenders in custody for drug
offenses. Almost one third of the juvenile drug
offenders were in residential placement for drug
trafficking.